Mop head

ABSTRACT

A mop head comprises a sponge block having a square cross section with a length exceeding the mop head support shaft, and having an anchor spool in one end of the block and a wringer spool secured to the other end of the block. At the wringer spool end, a return sleeve is formed by a cutout portion in the wringer end of the mop. Because the sponge block has a length exceeding the mop head support shaft, when the wringer spool is engaged to the end of the wringer shaft of the mop, the same folds reversely so that the outer reaches of the sleeve extend beyond the wringer spool defining a ring of sponge around the wringer spool so that direct contact with corner areas when mopped is a function of the sponge face with the wringer spool retracted out of contact with such corner area.

vUnited States Patent [191 Popeil et al.

[451 Nov. 5, 1974 [22] Filed:

[ MOP HEAD [75] Inventors: Samuel J. Popeil, Chicago; David V.

[52] 11.8. C1. 15/228, 15/120 R, 15/144 R, 15/244 A, 29/119 [51] Int. Cl. A471 13/142, A471 13/16 [58] Field of Search 15/116 A, 119 A, 120 R, 15/120 A, 228, 230.11, 244 A; 29/119 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,845 7/1953 Vengl'ism 29/119 X 3,616,483 11/1971 Mantelet 15/144 R X 3,699,603 10/1972 Popeil 15/120 R 3,750,220 8/1973 Popeil et al 15/228 3,798,700 3/1974 Popeil 15/228 Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dominik, Knechtel, Godula & Demeur 5 7] ABSTRACT A mop head comprises a sponge block having a square cross section with a length exceeding the mop head support shaft, and having an anchor spool in one end of the block and a wringer spool secured to the other end of the block. At the wringer spool end. a return sleeve is formed by a cutout portion in the wringer end of the mop. Because the sponge block has a length exceeding the mop head support shaft, when the wringer spool is engaged to the end of the wringer shaft of the mop, the'same folds reversely so that the outer reaches of the sleeve extend beyond the wringer spool defining a ring of sponge around the wringer spool so that direct contact with corner areas when mopped is a function of the sponge face with the wringer spool retracted out of contact with such corner area.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MOP HEAD CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The subject improved mop head for wringer mops relates particularly to replaceable mop heads of the character useful in-the wringer mop of U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,603.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art mop heads include those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,616,483 and 3,699,603.

As will be observed, the illustrative prior art mop heads are generally rectangular having two faces intended for mopping. The other two narrower faces are generally not available for mopping, and accordingly a significant portion of the mop face is never used.

Also to be observed in the prior art mop heads is the absence of a peripheral sleeve or extension of sponge material which canbe worked into tight corners such as adjacent quarter round and mop boards where the wall in conventional buildings joins the floor.

In addition, the pressure applied by the average homemaker to the mops and mop heads of wringer mops of the prior art is distributed over a relatively large flat surface. Such'mopping isquite effective for normal dirt and dust, but requires maximum pressure and effort where pesky stains such as dried chocolate syrup, jam, and oil or grease stains are involved. It thus becomes necessary to. mop a significantly longer time to remove such stains, or to use auxiliary equipment such as a scrub rag, scrub brush, and the like.

SUMMARY An improvedv mop head for wringer mops is presented which is useful on a wringer mop of the character disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,603. The mop head includes a generally rectangular, and preferably square, cross section having a length exceeding the'mop head support shaft. An anchor spool is provided at one end of the block and a wringer spool is secured to the other end of the block. A wringer end return sleeve is formed by a cut out in the wringer end of the sponge block so that when the wringer spool is secured to the end of the sleeve, and the same is mounted on the wringer shaft, the sleeve folds reversely and the outer reaches of the sleeve extend beyond the wringer spool to define a ring of sponge extending beyond the wringer spool for direct contact with corner areas when mopping.

One important object of the present invention IS achieved by providing the return sleeve in the improved mop head which permits mopping into corners inaccessible with contact with surfaces being mopped is edge contact, thereby permitting a squeegee-like action to forcibly remove the more pesky dirt spots. A related and significant object of the present invention is the provision of an improved mop head for use on a wringer mop of the character disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,603 which, because of the edge contact of a generally square cross sectioned sponge block, on normal pressure provides for complete surface contact around approximately one-half of the mop when mopping on one edge, and when mopping on a diagonal edge, approximately onehalf of the surface is also contacted. Thereby, particularly when the mop head is rotated, all of the faces can be utilized for mopping on their entire surface area thus extending the time between cleanings of the mop head, or required rinsing and purging of the same of dirt.

Yet another object of the present invention is achieved by the use of thesubject improved mop head when a reinforcing webbing of the character disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,913,772 in that the pressure on the edge of the mop assists the webbing in effecting an abrasive-type action against stubborn dirt to dislodge the same.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of an illustrative embodiment proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view showing the illustrative mop head in its disassembled relationship from a typical wringer mop for which it is intended to be used.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view and comparable to that of FIG. 1 showing the mop head in place on the wringer mop.

FIG. 3 is a transversesectional view slightly enlarged taken along section lines .3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the relationship between the wringer mop and the normal position for mopping of the mop head in contact with the floor in a typical mopping operation.

FIG. 4 is an explodedperspective view of the mop head'showing its principal components.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partially broken view of the wringer end portion of the wringer mop illustrating the configuration of the mop head prior to reversely folding its wringer end portion.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the mop head in fixed mopping relationship with the wringer mop.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As illustrated in FIG. I, the wringer mop 10 in which the mop head 20 is useful is made in accordance, with U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,603. The mop head 20 is formed from a cellulose sponge in which a cotton webbing is molded into the exterior surface in accordancewith U.S. Pat. No. 2,913,772. As will be particularly observed in FIG. 3, the mop head 20 is provided for positioning on the wringer mop 10 in such a manner that normal mopping action will result from contact with the mop head edges 22.,with the floor 29, and the pressure of the user on the mop handle llwill cause one of the edges 22 to present a flattened mop surface 23 such as observed in FIG. 3. This extra pressure, coupled with webbing 26 which is embedded in the mop head 20, permits a pressure scrubbing action with a related squeegee effect that is quite effective in utilizing the entire exterior surface of the mop head 20, as well as removing pesky dirt stains by additional pressure afforded on contact of the edges 22 and the thereafter flattened mop surface 23.

The illustrative wringer mop 10, in addition to its demountable handle 11, includes a head mount 12 into which the handle 11 is inserted. A spacer beam 21 connects the elements of the head mount 12 to the handle 11, and the mop head 20 is placed along the wringer snap assembly 35 and wringer shaft support 28 while the fins 30, 53 engage the spool slots 34 of the anchor spool 31 and wringer spool 36 as will be set forth in greater detail hereinafter. Once the mop head 20 is assembled into the configuration as shown in FIG. 2, the same can be wrung out by means of removing the handle lock 27 and rotating the wringer crank 16 which in turn rotates the wringer and the wringer snap assembly 35 thereby rotating the mop head 20 at its free end. The handle 24 is provided on the head mount 12 to assist the user in holding the same while expressing moisture or retained water during the rotation of the crank 16. Alternatively, the user can also hold the wringer mop by means of the head mount 12.

Another important advantage of the present invention will be better understood after a detailed description of the mop head 20 is appreciated. Noting at the outset in FIG. 4 that the mop head 20 comprises a sponge block 50 with a webbing molded into its surface in accordance with US. Pat. No. 2,915,772, it will be seen that a cut out 71 is provided in the wringer end of the mop head 20 which, in turn, defines the reverse fold end 70 of the mop head 20 when in place on the wringer mop 10. Particularly as observed in FIGS. 2 and 6, it will be seen that the reverse fold end 70 extends beyond the wringer spool end cap 42 so that the entire wringer spool end cap 42 is surrounded by the extending reverse fold 70 which, in turn, contacts mop boards, wall surfaces, and the like. This permits the user of the mop to not only exert the additional pressure on the flattened bottom surface 23 as shown in FIG. 3, but also to laterally press the mop head 20 against sidewalls such as mop boards which are engaged by the reverse fold 70 and not scratched or rubbed by the outer reaches of the anchor spool end cap 42. Thus, the elements basically shown in FIG. 4 which make up the mop head 20 are from left to right the end cap 42, the wringer spool ring 62 which locks the reversely folded end 70 onto the wringer spool 36, and a support band 65 which retains the shape of the wringer end of the sponge block 20. At the opposite end of the sponge block 50 of the mop head 20 is an anchor spool 31, an anchor spool retaining ring 61, and the anchor spool end cap 41, the open end 46 of which permits the receiving of the wringer shaft support 28.

Turning now more specifically to FIG. 5 and the left portion thereof it will be seen that the cut out 71 of the sponge block 50 is provided additionally with a band support annular cut 75 into which the support band 65 is inserted and defining an annular band support portion 76 of the sponge block 50. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5 of the anchor spool 31 along with the anchor spool end cap 41 have been positioned in place on the wringer mop 10. At the opposite end, however, it will be seen that the wringer snap assembly and its associated fins 53 as well as the snap head 43 having a snap head slot and snap head undercut to receive the wringer spool 36 are not as yet assembled with the wringer spool 36. In FIG. 6, however, it will be seen that as the user presses against the wringer spool cap 42, the wringer spool 36 is brought into position over the snap head 43 and the reversely folded end of the sponge block 50 and mop head 20 takes its position extending in surrounding relationship to the wringer spool end cap 42 and beyond the same. It will be further observed how the support ring 65 not only supports the loose end portion surrounding the cavity 71 when in the unfastened position but further defines the outer confines of the reversely folded end when the wringer spool 36 is snapped into position on the snap head 43.

The wringer spool 36, as well as the anchor spool 31, are held against the sponge block 50 unlocked against rotation by means of the wringer spool stabilizing fins 55, and the anchor spool stabilizing fins 56. The locking in place is provided by means of the wringer spool ring 62 and the anchor spool ring 61 which are compressibly engaged with the sponge block 50 at the respective ends of the mop head 20. The compression takes place against the anchor spool undercut and the wringer spool undercut 59. The wringer spool 36 is further provided with a snap head, 47, which is proportioned to pass over the snap head 43 and squeeze the same together at the snap head slot 44 and then engage the snap head undercut 45 thus securing the wringer spool 36 in the configuration shown at the left hand portion of FIG. 6. The end cap 42 for the wringer spool, as well as the end cap 41 for the anchor spool is provided with rings 48 to engage the snap ring grooves 54 provided on both the anchor spool 31 and wringer spool 36.

It will be further seen that each of the end caps 41, 42 is provided with a skirt 60 which masks the ravelled edges outboard of the rings 61, 62 and provides a clean, finished end for both ends of the mop head 20. The cutouts in the sponge block 50 in addition to providing the large cut-out 71 to define the reverse fold end 70 further include a cut-out to receive the anchor spool 31 and a wringer shaft for cut-out 52 to receive the entire wringer assembly. Further to be noted in FIG. 5 in phantom lines is a metallic wringer shaft which is interior of the wringer shaft support 28 and the wringer snap assembly 35 which is actuated by the rotation of the handle 27 and its associated wringer crank 16.

The position and orientation of the spool slots 34 and both the anchor spool 31 and the wringer spool 36 is in the orientation as shown in FIG. 3. There it will be observed that the slots are located along an axis perpendicular with the flat faces of the mop head 20. This provides, in normal operation, for a mopping position in which the mop head edges 22 will engage the floor 29 defining the flat surface 23 as shown in FIG. 3. This flat surface serves to perform a squeegee-like action when not pressed heavily through the handle 11 but alternatively to provide an abrasive-type contact through the sponge block 50 and its webbing 26 translated onto the floor surface 29. Such things as jam, jelly, chocolate syrup, and the like, require this additional pressure for removal and the particular orientation of the mounting slots 34 thus prevent this action. Furthermore, by reversing the mop head 20, and alternatively moving from a left-hand to a right-hand position, each and every one of the edges 22 and its adjacent flat surface 23 can be exposed to the floor prior to a second wringing squeezing operation thereby utilizing all of the faces of the mop head in action. This reduces the time required by the user in mopping the floor, and further extends the life of the mop head 20 by dictating the effective use of its entire periphery.

A further detail relates to the construction of the support band 65 in which it will be noted that one end is provided with a dart 66 which is fitted into a slot 68. An

auxiliary slot 69 is further provided for those instances where a smaller mop head size is to be employed.

In review it will be seen that a molded mop head 20 has been described which provides for mopping effectively on all its four edges 22, which further has a reversely folded end 70 thereby permitting contact of the mop surface with vertical faces while mopping a floor, and in which all four faces of the mop head 20 may be utilized in normal mopping operations. In those instances, however, where the mopping is intended for the tops of doors, moldings, and overhead pipes, the flat faces in between the edges 22 of the mop head 20 will be engaged. This action results from the perpendicular relationship between the longitudinal axis of the mop handle 11, and the flat faces of the square crosssection mop head 20 as illustrated at angle 13 on FIG. 3 showing that the same is perpendicular.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to the details of such embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternatives, embodiments, usages and equivalents of a mop head as fall within the spirit 'and scope of the invention, specification and the appended claims.

We claim:

I. A mop head for use with a wringer mop having a mop head support shaft, one end of which is rotatable while the other is fixed, each shaft end having means to engage a wringer spool and anchor spool, and a mop handle generally perpendicualr to the shaft comprising,

a sponge block having a rectangular cross section and having four faces and four edges and a length exceeding the mop head support shaft,

an anchor spool secured to one end of said block,

a wringer spool secured to the other end of said block,

a wringer end sleeve portion formed by a cut out in the wringer end of said sponge block,

said wringer spool lying within and secured to the end of said sleeve portion,

whereby securing said mop head to the support shaft including pressing the wringer spool inwardly reversely folds the sleeve portion, the outer reaches of said sleeve portion extending beyond the wringer spool for direct contact with corner areas when mopping.

2. In the mop head of claim 1,

mounting means in each of said wringer spools and anchor spools, I

said sponge block having a substantially square cross section,

said mounting means and mop handle being so oriented that normal mopping takes place with one of the four mop head edges against the floor.

3. In the mop head of claim 1,

a reinforcing band interior of the sponge block with a diameter to fit within the cut out and a width to define the inner portion of the reverse fold end of the mop head.

4. In the mop of claim 3,

said reinforcing band being formed from a strap-like resilient material,

a dart-like anchor formed at one end of said band,

means defining a slot adjacent the opposite end of the band proportioned to receive said dart, thereby securing the band in a circular configuration for insertion in the mop head cut out.

5. In the mop head of claim 2,

a reinforcing band interior of the sponge block with a diameter to fit within the cut out and a width to define the inner portion of the reverse fold end of the mop head.

6. In the mop head of claim 1,

mounting slots in each of said wringer spools and anchor spools,

said sponge block having a substantially square cross section,

said mounting slots and means to engage the spools and mop handle being so oriented that normal mopping takes place with one of the four mop head edges against the floor.

7. In the mop head of claim 6,

a reinforcing band interior of the sponge block with a diameter to fit within the cut out and a width to define the inner portion of the reverse fold end of the mop head.

8. In the mop head of claim 7,

said reinforcing band being formed from a strap-like resilient material,

a dart-like anchor formed at one end of said band,

means defining a slot adjacent the opposite end, of the band proportional to receive said dart, thereby securing the band in a circular configuration for insertion in the mop head cut out. 

1. A mop head for use with a wringer mop having a mop head support shaft, one end of which is rotatable while the other is fixed, each shaft end having means to engage a wringer spool and anchor spool, and a mop handle generally perpendicualr to the shaft comprising, a sponge block having a rectangular cross section and having four faces and four edges and a length exceeding the mop head support shaft, an anchor spool secured to one end of said block, a wringer spool secured to the other end of said block, a wringer end sleeve portion formed by a cut out in the wringer end of said sponge block, said wringer spool lying within and secured to the end of said sleeve portion, whereby securing said mop head to the support shaft including pressing the wringer spool inwardly reversely folds the sleeve portion, the outer reaches of said sleeve portion extending beyond the wringer spool for direct contact with corner areas when mopping.
 2. In the mop head of claim 1, mounting means in each of said wringer spools and anchor spools, said sponge block having a substantially square cross section, said mounting means and mop handle being so oriented that normal mopping takes place with one of the four mop head edges against the floor.
 3. In the mop head of claim 1, a reinforcing band interior of the sponge block with a diameter to fit within the cut out and a width to define the inner portion of the reverse fold end of the mop head.
 4. In the mop of claim 3, said reinforcing band being formed from a strap-like resilient material, a dart-like anchor formed at one end of said band, means defining a slot adjacent the opposite end of the band proportioned to receive said dart, thereby securing the band in a circular configuration for insertion in the mop head cut out.
 5. In the mop head of claim 2, a reinforcing band interior of the sponge block with a diameter to fit within the cut out and a width to define the inner portion of the reverse fold end of the mop head.
 6. In the mop head of claim 1, mounting slots in each of said wringer spools and anchor spools, said sponge block having a substantially square cross section, said mounting slots and means to engage the spools and mop handle being so oriented that normal mopping takes place with one of the four mop head edges against the floor.
 7. In the mop head of claim 6, a reinforcing band interior of the sponge block with a diameter to fit within the cut out and a width to define the inner portion of the reverse fold end of the mop head.
 8. In the mop head of claim 7, said reinforcing band being formed from a strap-like resilient material, a dart-like anchor formed at one end of said band, means defining a slot adjacent the opposite end, of the band proportional to receive said dart, thereby securing the band in a circular configuration for insertion in the mop head cut out. 